Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Weather: Steamboat is forecast to have sunny skies and a high of 85 on Friday. But the haze from wildfire smoke from the West will persist through Saturday. However, late Saturday the haze could thin as wind flows start to "become less direct."

Local news

• Columnist Rob Douglas wonders if American voters have too little knowledge of politics. Rob Douglas: Should ‘ignorant’ people vote?

• A group of Routt County residents has banded together to oppose a proposed Indian casino near Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden. Take part in our poll. Group comes forward against proposed Hayden casino

• Enrollment at Routt County's three private schools remains much lower than it was four years ago. Steamboat's private schools still working to grow enrollment

• The South Routt Medical Center has reached capacity, but its plans to expand have run up against an Oak Creek right-of-way. South Routt Medical Center faces challenges to expansion

• After three years of showing chickens, 13-year-old Hallie Myhre knows what it takes to be grand champion in showmanship at the Routt County Fair. What weekend events are you planning on taking part in at the fair? Routt County youths excel in poultry showmanship at fair

• To teach a reliable recall, you must teach your dog to associate something pleasant or rewarding with coming to you when you call him. That's not as easy as it sounds. A Dog's Eye View: Getting what you don’t want

• The Record for Aug. 15, 2012

• Routt County events calendar for Aug. 17 to 23

Explore Steamboat

• It's a don't miss event Friday night. Nearly 10 years after its formation in Portland, Ore., the MarchFourth Marching Band will make its first appearance in Steamboat Springs in the final show of the 2012 Free Summer Concert Series. Steamboat Free Summer Concert Series closes Friday with a spectacle

• It’s not going to make much sense. Next week, 11 members of Steamboat Springs’ Pirate Theatre troupe are going to pack skis, outerwear and sleeping bags into a van and drive down to Boulder. Steamboat Springs' Pirate Theatre takes show on the road

• The Steamboat Symphony Orchestra's Opening Concert is at 7 p.m. Saturday, and tickets range from $1 for youths to $35 for adults. Steamboat Symphony opens season with 'Star Wars,' Sibelius

• Do the musicians who use Howelsen Hill Lodge ever think about the other greats who played the small mountain venue before them? Nicole Inglis: Howelsen Hill the perfect concert series backdrop

Local sports

• If you listen to Jim Schneider talk about the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, it's not a matter of if the race will come back to Steamboat Springs, but when. Steamboat Springs plans to bid on 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge

• The second annual Biking the Boat Charity Ride returns to Steamboat on Aug. 25. Steamboat Springs Biking the Boat Charity Ride returns

• Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club coach Tony Lodico and a trio of his freestyle skiing athletes spent their summer helping at a New York camp for at-risk youths. Steamboat skiers lend a hand in New York

• With season-long championship races wrapping up and the always thrilling Pat Mantle saddle bronc riding competition, the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series can’t help but close with a bang. Steamboat rodeo looks to close season strong

• The Steamboat Springs High School golf team goes to a tournament, and it wins. For the fourth straight event, Steamboat finished as the top team in its classification or as the top team overall. Steamboat Springs High School golf team wins again

Nation and world

• South Africa’s Police Commissioner Defends Officers Who Fired on Miners The New York Times

• Russian female punk rock band found guilty, await sentence Reuters

• Assange asylum case ripples through Latin America Christian Science Monitor

• Iraqi officials say daylong wave of attacks across Iraq claimed more than 90 lives on Thursday Washington Post

• For Miss., an angst-filled Civil War anniversary St. Louis Post-Dispatch